Gasholder



Patented Jan. 3, 1950 Harry C. Boardman, Chicago, Ill.,

assignor to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, a corporation of IllinoisApplication January 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,439 4 claims. (C1. is-476iThis invention relates to a gas holder for the storage of gases underpressure.

The gas holder of the present invention comprises a substantially rigidportion having an open top and serving as the principal gas storageportion, a bendable closure for the top that is movable toward and awayfrom the rigid portion and designed to rest on the open top when theholder is substantially empty, and a flexible sealing member sealing thearea between the edge of the open top and the closure. The closure isdeformable under the pressure of gas within the gas holder to increasethe capacity of the gas holder. One of the chief advantages of thisconstruction is that when the gas holder is being filled with gas theclosure moves outwardly to the full extent of the fiexible sealingmember and then bends outwardly to accommodate a greater quantity ofgas. Thus the gas holder can occupy a relatively small space when empty,but yet be capable of holding a considerable quantity of gas.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiments shown inthe accompanying drawings. Of the drawings Fig. 1 is a, fragmentary planview of a tank embodying the invention with portions broken away; Fig. 2is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially through the centerof a gas holder with the holder full of gas; Fig. 3 is a verticalsection similar to Fig. 2 showing the gas holder substantially empty;Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 showing an alternate formof gas holder; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 3showing the gas holder substantially empty.

The gas holder shown in the accompanying drawings comprises acylindrical portion I having a flat bottom I I and an open top I2.Across the open top of the cylinder lll there is positioned a closure I3which also serves as a weather roof. Between the top edge of thecylinder I0 and the closure I3 there is located a flexible sealingmember I4 serving to close the area between the top edge I2 of thecylinder Ill and the closure I3. This flexible sealing member may bemade of fabric impregnated with a flexible material that is imperviousto gas.

In order to eliminate stress from the sealing member I4 when the closureI3 is in fully extended position there is provided a plurality of spacedchains I attached to the top edge of the cylinder Ill and to the closureI3. Each chain I5 has an effective length substantially equal to theeffective width of the sealing member I4.

The closure I3 has its edge extending beyond the cylinder Ill. On thisedge there is provided a downwardly extending weather skirt I6 servingto protect the sealing member I4 from rain, snow, and the like.

The closure I3 is made bendable so that it will have an outwardlyconcave shape (Fig. 3) when the gas holder is empty, but will bend so asto have an outwardly convex shape (Fig. 2) when the holder is full ofgas. This serves to increase the storage capacity of the gas holder.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the sealing member I4 hasits top edge fastened to the closure I3 along a circle having a diameterconsiderably smaller than the diameter of the cylinder Ill. In theembodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the top edge of the sealing member Ilis fastened to the weather skirt I6. In both embodiments the top edge ofthe sealing member is fastened to the closure by means of bolts I1,while the bottom edge of the sealing member is fastened to the top edgeof the cylinder I0 by means of bolts I9.

The gas holder shown provided with any type of stabilizing apparatus tomaintain the roof level and to guide it during its travel. It will alsobe provided with the usual gas flow conduits, valves, and safety valves.All this apparatus is well known in the art.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiments shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specified,but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set outin the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A gas holder or the like comprising a suband described may beleveling, guiding, and

stantially cylindrical portion having an open top,v

a flexible closure for said top having its edge portion resting on thetop edge of the cylinder when the holder is substantially empty of gas,a iiexible sealing member attached to the closure and to the cylinderfor sealing the area between the open top and the closure, and aplurality of flexible strengthening members extending from the top ofthe cylindrical portion to the closure and positioned about thegasholder immediately exterior of the sealing member, said strengtheningmembers having .an effective length substantially equal to the effectivewidth of the flexible sealing member and being adapted to back up saidsealing member when the gasholder is under maximum pressure, saidclosure being movable in its entirety away from the cylindrical portionand being outwardly concave when the holder is under no gas pressure andbeing outwardly convex when the holder is under maximum gas pressure.

2. The gas holder of claim 1 wherein the flexible sealing member isannular, having one edge attached to the inner side walls of thecylinder and having the other edge attached to the closure along acircle having a diameter less than the diameter of the cylinder.

3. A gas holder or the like comprising a substantially cylindricalportion having an open top, a. closure for said top having its edgeportion resting on the top edge of the cylinder when the holder issubstantially empty of gas, a iexible sealing member attached to theclosure and to the cylinder for sealing the area between the open topand the closure, and a plurality of ilexible strengthening membersextending from the top of the cylinder to the closure and positionedabout the gasholder immediately exterior of the sealing member, saidstrengthening mem- 4 bers having an effective length substantially equalto the eiective width of the exible sealing member and being adapted toback up said sealing member when the gasholder is under maximumpressure, said closure being movable in its entirety away from thecylinder.

4. The gas holder of claim 3 wherein the closure extends beyond thecylindrical portion, the closure is provided with a, downwardlyextending weather skirt substantially at its periphery, and the sealingmember is attached to the closure within said periphery.

HARRY C. BOARDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

